Shoe hanger



R. J. SEARCY Dec. 2 1952 SHOE HANGER Filed NOV. 25, 1949 ATTOR EY Patented Dec. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE HANGER Robert J. Searcy, Louisville, Ky. Application November 25, 1949, Serial No. 129,461

1 Claim. 01. 211-35) The present invention relates to improvements in supporting devices or holders, and has reference more particularly to a shoe hanger.

One of the important objects is to provide a shoe hanger adapted to be secured on a wall or similar structure to support a shoe by its heel in a suspended position.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a shoe hanger that can accommodate shoes having heels of different sizes and which will support the shoe in a rigidly suspended position.

A still further object is to provide a shoe hanger wherein the coacting heel gripping elements are covered to protect the heels of the shoe from being marred or scratched while the shoe is suspended by the hanger.

A further object is to provide a shoe hanger that will be inexpensive, strong and durable and at all times positive and efficient in carrying out the purposes for which it has been designed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the shoe hanger mounted on a wall with a shoe suspended therefrom.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the lin 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the shoe hanger secured on a wall.

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the shoe hanger, and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken transversely through one of the gripping fingers of the shoe hanger.

In the drawing, wherein there is disclosed the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral l designates generally the shoe hanger, the same being formed from sheet metal, although any other suitable material may be employed.

The shoe hanger includes a base plate 2, that tapers gradually toward its bottom, as clearly shown in the drawing. Suitable holes 3 are provided in the base plate to accommodate screws for securing the shoe hanger against the wall or other suitable supporting surface A.

Extending forwardly from the side edges of the lower portion of the base plate 2 are the arms 5, the same being disposed at right angles to the base plate 2. These arms are formed integrally with the base plate and further, converge outwardly toward each other slightly.

Projecting upwardly from the outer ends of the arms 5 are the resilient fingers or jaws 6, the same diverging upwardly. These spring fingers or jaws extend along the substantially tapered side edges of the base plate '2, in parallel spaced relation thereto and the upper ends of these fingers or jaws terminate in close proximity to the upper edge of the base plate.

Sleeves 1, formed of rubber or equivalent elastic tubing, fit about the fingers 6. The arms and the fingers are of appreciably greater width than the thickness of the sheet metal from which the hanger is formed and the tubing from which the sleeves are formed is circular in cross section. Therefore when the sleeves are applied to the fingers they contact edge faces of the fingers but inner surfaces of opposed wall portions of the sleeves are spaced from the confronting flat side: faces of the fingers, as shown in Figure 6, and. may be flexed towards the fingers when subjected to transverse pressure.

In use, the shoe hanger is secured at the de sired height against a supporting surface, such as a wall or closet door by the fastening elements.

A shoe B has its heel portion C forced downwardly between the coacting spring gripping fingers 6, so that the heel is wedged between the spring fingers whereby the shoe will be rigidly supported by the hanger in a suspended position. The sleeves I will prevent the metal fingers from having direct contact with the heel and as the sleeves have inner surfaces of their walls spaced from confronting side faces of the fingers, and may be flexed towards the fingers, a firm grip may be obtained upon opposite sides of the heel without the heel being scarred by gripping action of the fingers. This is particularly true as the heel is gripped between the wide side faces of the fingers instead of between narrow edge faces thereof.

The shoe may be readily and easily inserted in or removed from the hanger and will accommodate shoes of both men and women. Further, the device can be made of such size as to accommodate shoe heels of varying sizes and shapes.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

A shoe hanger formed of sheet metal and comprising a base plate adapted to be secured to a supporting surface, a pair of arms extending forwardly from the base plate in transversely spaced relation to each other and being of appreciably greater width than the thickness of the arms, outer end portions of said arms extending upwardly and forming gripping fingers disposed in upwardly diverging relation to each other and being of appreciably greater width than thickness and formed with fiat inner and outer side faces, the said fingers constituting members adapted to receive a heel of a shoe between their confronting inner side faces and suspend the shoe from the hanger, and protective tubular sleeves of elastic material fitting about the fingers and 4 having inner surfaces of oppositely disposed wall portions spaced from the confronting fiat side faces of the fingers, and adapted to be moved toward the respective side faces of the fingers when a shoe is suspended between the fingers.

ROBERT J. SEARCY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 740,964 Wintsch, Jr. Oct. 6, 1903 930,887 Robuck Aug. 10, 1909 1,405,539 Moore Feb. 7, 1922 2,051,408 Karst Aug. 18, 1936 2,389,522 Leppla Nov. 20, 1945 

